MEGA.AI | June 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to the MEGA.AI Monthly Newsletter for June 2026
We are delighted to present the June 2026 edition of the MEGA.AI Newsletter, highlighting continued progress across our partnerships, workshops, events, and product innovation. Martin featured in a very hot London last week with Dan Thompson from Acquired, and Sam Grant and Toby Mason from IP Integration. ‘Orchestration’ and ‘Integration’ being key themes.
Our ‘Danish and Coffee’ LinkedIn Live sessions on a Friday morning at 11am (GMT) have continued to evolve with over a thousand having registered across the 12 episodes so far. The recording links are below, including the recent event featuring Acquired, Debtrak and DebtStream. We have an ‘in person’ event in Stratford-upon-Avon on 24 September 2026.
Simon Howard joins the MEGA.AI family
Simon joins us to help drive our ambitious expansion into Canada, where we’re preparing to announce some BIG news immediately after the summer. He will also play a key role in accelerating our growth across the United States, working alongside our incredible advisory team, including Kevin Still and Chris Warburton.
Simon brings decades of experience from the collections and receivables industry. He has built an outstanding reputation for developing commercial relationships, helping businesses grow, and connecting the right people to create real opportunities. His deep understanding of the North American collections market, combined with his trusted industry network, makes him an invaluable addition to our journey.
At MEGA.AI, we’re not just building another technology company. We’re building the future of customer engagement, vulnerability support, and AI-powered debt resolution and we’re bringing together the very best people to make it happen. Simon, welcome to a team that dreams big, moves fast, and is determined to change an industry.
Introducing MEGA-CARE
Successful AI is about more than technology. It is about partnership. Discover how MEGA supports customers from implementation to continuous optimisation with a proven operational approach that delivers measurable results. Watch out for more updates on our Mega-Care proposition as a core part of our service delivery promise both directly and with integration partners.
To know more please click here
Product development
Over the coming weeks we will be featuring more use cases around proportionate affordability assessments at different stages of the customer journey. With Deferred Payment Credit/BNPL falling under FCA supervision in July 2026, we have seen more regulator speeches and communications around their expectations. MEGA.AI has supported a number of events in advance of new regulations, including the Affordability Summit in April 2026. We will continue this messaging.
This work will be cross-sector, as we continue to see a significant rise in arrears levels with essential services, notably in the energy sector and with local authorities, including council tax arrears. We are working with many of the debt resolution firms in these sectors, often in collaboration with their trade bodies (e.g. CSA, CIVEA, DEMSA). We are introducing Global Voice AI Affordability Assessment, extending our reach into the affordability conversation itself.
Every market has different data sources, different regulations, different consumer expectations. This module connects MEGA's Voice AI with specialist data and technology partners in each region - Open Banking affordability intelligence, engagement technology, vulnerability identification and modelled expenditure intelligence - all woven into a single, natural voice conversation.The result: a full affordability snapshot in under 5 minutes, 24/7, verified against real data - on the same call where the consumer verifies, pays, self-serves or negotiates.
FCA and proportionate affordability checks
On the 15 July 2026, the FCA introduces protections for consumers using Deferred Payment Credit (DPC/BNPL). This is likely to have an impact across the whole customer journey. Chris Warburton has recently produced a ‘deep dive’ article on this topic from a debt resolution perspective.
www.fca.org.uk/news/blogs/why-stronger-buy-now-pay-later-protections-are-right-step-consumers
https://ro-ar-bot.com/2026/05/27/bnpl-regulation-countdown-collections-recoveries-2026/
MEGA.AI at Innovation North from Leeds on 4 June 2026
Chris Warburton spoke at Innovation North and produced a summary of the event. What a great day at the Civic Hall in Leeds talking about the latest technology, innovation and processes in local government. Chris was delighted to be able to present on behalf of MEGA.AI. This technology is already transformational and quickly becoming indispensable. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has just released figures showing that Council Tax arrears in England now stand at £7.4 billion, up 11.3% from FY 2024/25. This is an increase of £748 million over the figure at the end of FY 2024-25.
The event covered public sector innovation and revenues focused on local government collections, council tax, vulnerability, payments, automation, workforce development and resident engagement. The discussion moved across enforcement strategy, landlord and tenancy issues, innovation culture, apprenticeships, payment trends, AI voice agents, open banking, RPA, crisis support, income maximisation, digital messaging, video communication and council case studies. The overall theme was how councils and partners can modernise revenues and collections while improving resident experience, vulnerability support, operational efficiency and financial outcomes.
www.ro-ar.com/innovations-north-2026-with-mega-ai-telsolutions-and-ascendant-solutions/
Agentic AI in Arrears Management, Debt Resolution and Debt Advice
Chris has written a Blog on this important topic, which was heavily featured during Credit Week and in recent regulatory updates.
https://ro-ar-bot.com/2026/06/15/agentic-ai-arrears-management-debt-collections-debt-advice/
Chris joined us on LinkedIn Live on 26 June 2026.
Energy arrears continue to rise
Energy debt has risen by 5% in the last quarter (Q1 2026) according to Ofgem. Ofgem has confirmed a further rise in energy debt for Q1 2026, rising 15% year-on-year to a total of £4.79 billion. The Ofgem figures measure arrears at a later stage than Energy UK. In February 2026, Energy UK’s analysis showed that the true figure is around £5.5 billion. Ofgem is looking at proposed options to implement an outcomes-based approach to regulating energy bills. This follows a National Audit Office report around the need for more pro-active support by essential service providers.
A quote from Kevin Still, who sits on our Advisory Board.
“We need co-ordinated action, including data sharing and a 'Tell Us Once' approach, linking the Priority Service Registers (PSRs) and financial vulnerability resources like the Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS), Experian SupportHub, IE Hub and others. Auto-enrolment in the PSR and social tariffs has made some progress, but the debt respite scheme needs momentum fueled by external data from the likes of the DWP (e.g. Means-Tested-Benefits).
“The average energy debt balance for households without a time-to-pay arrangement in place has risen to £1,876. Energy bills are rising by 13% from July 2026. Pro-active identification is required aligned to the thinking behind the Ofgem debt relief scheme. FCA-regulated debt resolution firms need to be included in this, as part of the supply chain. Debt advice referrals (not just sign-posting) need to be earlier in the process with two-way data sharing to measure outcomes and engagement levels as touched upon at the last StepChange Debt Charity Connected event by British Gas and Ovo.
“Income Optimisation providers like Policy in Practice have shown the art of the possible in the water sector. Sector events have looked at how pro-active approaches can be taken up with innovative and trusted providers in the ecosystem.”
"Signposting for customers who have language barriers"
The CSA has examined how language barriers can affect customer engagement. Research highlights that language barriers are a recurring operational issue across debt advice firms, and support capabilities can vary. The Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS) and their sub-flags also cover additional support needs.
Innovation has a clear role to play for both consumers and firms. As part of the research, the CSA engaged with PayPlan, StepChange Debt Charity, CAP, National Debtline and the Money and Pensions Service.
We hope to have the CSA on LinkedIn Live in the near future. www.csa-uk.com/signposting-language-barriers
Upcoming events
AI: Insight to Action – 24 September in Stratford-upon-Avon
This is a follow-up to the ‘AI: Real Life’ event in March 2026 and the LinkedIn Live event on 19 June 2026. We team up again with Acquired, Debtrak and DebtStream.
Mega LinkedIn Live | Friday 3 July - 11am UK Time
Join Kevin Still, Mark McElvanney, Gareth Llewelyn and Martin Nielsen. We will explore the future of customer journeys, affordability, vulnerability, regulation, and how technology is reshaping the way organisations engage with customers.
Registration Link
Chris was the first to feature twice on LinkedIn Live. His last recording can be accessed here. We expect more return speakers through 2026.
Congratulations to Natalie Bunyer and ARC Europe on their awards during Credit Week. Natalie recently appeared on LinkedIn Live. BPO Collections also won an award with Inicio AI.
LinkedIn Live archive - www.mega.ai/linkedin-live
Previous newsletters - www.mega.ai/newsletters
Marketing updates
Nathan Hilton visiting the MEGA.AI team in Copenhagen in late June 2026 as part of the launch of new video material which will be promoted on LinkedIn and the Mega website. The team BBQ during a heatwave!
Martin has also been posting on MEGA News on LinkedIn. Episode 5 link.
